St. Paul, Minn. - Feb. 23, 2009 -Curt Kietzer has announced his resignation after 12 seasons as head men’s basketball coach at Macalester College. Kietzer informed the college and his team of his intentions on Friday.

"Over the years, whenever someone has asked me what I enjoy most about coaching at Macalester, I have answered, 'the students'. And it is my players that I will miss the most. I plan to stay in touch with the alumni I coached and my colleagues," said Kietzer. "I am very confident that Macalester will hire a great replacement for me and I wish them and the team all the best."

During his tenure, Kietzer’s record was 112-189. Among his most notable accomplishment was his team’s success from 2001-02 through 2004-05, when the Scots made it to the conference playoffs three times in four years. His 2001-02 team knocked off Division I Yale and in 2003-04 Macalester placed second in the MIAC. That team made it to the conference championship game, just missing out on a bid to the national playoffs. He also coached two All-West Region players, including an All-American and MIAC player of the year.

"We're grateful to Curt for his 12 years of service and for his many contributions to the men's basketball program and to the department," said Macalester Director of Athletics Kim Chandler.

Chandler said a national search for Kietzer's replacement will begin immediately and that her highest priority will be placed on the search and the hiring of a new head coach by April.

"It will be important for the players in our program as well as the prospective student athletes who are being recruited to Mac, to have a chance to meet the new head coach and to understand the vision and the future aspirations of the program,” said Chandler. “The search committee will be given the charge to move forward immediately to meet this critical deadline in April and to name a successor, prior to student-athletes making their final decisions on their college choice."